Religion

On Friday, March 21, from 8:30 until 10 pm, poets and scholars from surrounding universities will gather at Congregation Adath Israel for an inspirational evening of poetry. Refreshments will be served including wine, cheese and crackers. The guest poets are Dr James R. Scrimgeour, Carol Ann Davis, Jeff Schlicht and Brian Clements. A Sabbath service will precede the poetry reading at 7:30, to which the public is also invited.

Members, and a few friends, of St John’s Episcopal Church plan to present their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper next week. Volunteers will be at the church all day on March 4, prepping the plates, napkins, utensils, drinks, pancake batter, griddles, coffee and everything else that will go into serving dinner for a few hundred people that evening. Diners will again enjoy an all-you-can-eat offering, with this year’s menu to include fresh pancakes, country style breakfast sausage, applesauce and beverages.

"Unity in Diversity," a weekly television program, can be seen on Mondays and Wednesdays on Charter Communications channel 21. Each week, viewers may experience leaders and representatives of a variety of local faith communities, sharing their message in a non-threatening manner. Host and producer of these programs is The Reverend Leo McIlrath, coordinator of Corpus Christi Community of Connecticut and ecumenical chaplain to the Lutheran Home of Southbury.

On Wednesday, February 19, there will be a service of Taizé worship at 7:15 pm in Trinity Episcopal Church. This tradition of musical worship began years ago in the ecumenical French monastic community called Taizé. Held at Trinity Episcopal Church in the darkened, richly resonant space, the local Taizé services provide an uncomplicated framework for quiet meditation, reflection, readings and music. There is no Eucharist or sermon during a Taizé service. Instead, the experience has the opportunity of deepening faith through the power of prayer. All are encouraged to participate as the Spirit moves them, whether that be in song, prayer, or quiet meditation.

On Sunday, February 23, at 11:30 am, a special meeting of the members of Newtown Congregational Church will take place in the sanctuary located at 14 West Street. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on staffing recommendation put forth by the Personnel Committee, the trustees, and the council to authorize the hiring of a full time transitional associate minister for a period of no more than two years effective July 1, 2014.

The Newtown/Danbury unit of Church Women United is planning its annual Human Rights Celebration. The theme of this year’s celebration, which will take place Saturday, March 8, at 10 am, at Newtown Congregational Church, is “Through God Our Hands Can Protect.” In preparation for the celebration, CWU-Newtown/Danbury will also offer a bible study on Friday, February 7. The program will begin at 1 pm at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. All are welcome to either or both programs.

Unity in Diversity, a weekly television program, can be seen on Mondays and Wednesdays on Charter Communications Channel 21. Each week, viewers may experience leaders and representatives of a variety of local faith communities, sharing their message in a non-threatening manner. The programs scheduled for January 27 to February 19 have been announced.

The St Rose of Lima Pro Life/Pro Family Committee will host a program by Peter Wolfgang on Sunday, February 2. Mr Wolfgang will discuss “Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia: Phony Compassion Or Cost Containment Measure? ” beginning at 1:15. The program will be in the Knights of Columbus Building, on the campus of St Rose of Lima. Mr Wolfgang joined the Family Institute of Connecticut (FIC) as director of public policy in 2004. He became the executive director of FIC in 2007. A freewill donation to benefit FIC will be received.

Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer (MDOP), a nondenominational gathering of women across the US and around the world one day in January for the past 17 years, has connected with a special group of women in 2014: mothers who lost their children on 12/14. Two of those mothers have formed a school safety awareness group named Safe and Sound Schools that is joining MDOP in the mission of bringing mothers together to pray for their children in churches, schools, community centers, and social media sites on Saturday, January 18. The Connecticut Mom’s Day of Prayer event will be held at Word Alive Bible Church, 536 West Avenue in Norwalk, from 10 am to noon.

On February 22, members of the St Rose parish and friends will gather together and celebrate as a community at its fourth Crystal Ball Gala. The gala is returning after a six-year hiatus. It will be held at The Waterview, just over the town line in Monroe. The evening, with a theme of “A Celebration of Community,” promises to be exceptional, with fine dining and open bar, dancing to an 11-piece orchestra, and live and silent auctions. Tickets are on sale, and all are welcome to attend.